US2007109977A1PendingUtilityA1

Method and apparatus for improving listener differentiation of talkers during a conference call

43
Assignee: MITTAL UDARPriority: Nov 14, 2005Filed: Nov 14, 2005Published: May 17, 2007
Est. expiryNov 14, 2025(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Udar MittalJames P. Ashley
G10L 21/038H04S 2420/01H04S 2400/11H04S 7/30
43
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Claims

Abstract

A method and apparatus for improving listener differentiation of talkers during a conference call is provided herein. Particularly, during a teleconference a node ( 101 ) will extend the bandwidth of received signals (e.g., speech). Each caller within the conference call will then have their voice projected by the node ( 101 ) to a particular spot in three-dimensional space.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for improving listener differentiation of talkers during a conference call, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving an input signal;    extending the bandwidth of the input signal to produce a bandwidth-extended signal;    determining a direction to assign the input signal; and    projecting the bandwidth-extended signal in the direction.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the direction comprises the step of determining a three dimensional direction.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of receiving an input signal comprises the step of receiving a voice signal.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of determining the direction of the input signal comprises the step of determining the direction of the input signal based on an identity of the voice signal.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the direction of the input signal comprises the step of determining the direction of the input signal based on an identity of the input signal.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of extending the bandwidth of the input signal to produce a bandwidth-extended signal comprises the step of extending the bandwidth to 0-8 kHz.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of projecting the bandwidth-extended signal comprises the step of projecting the bandwidth-extended signal using a head related impulse response (HRIR).  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of extending the bandwidth comprises the step of extending a part of the bandwidth that is more important for HRTFs.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of extending the bandwidth comprises the step of extending the bandwidth based on the direction.  
     
     
         10 . A method for improving listener differentiation of talkers during a conference call, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a voice signal;    extending the bandwidth of the voice to produce a bandwidth-extended voice signal;    determining a direction to assign the bandwidth-extended voice signal; and    projecting the bandwidth-extended voice signal in the direction using a head related impulse response (HRIR).    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of determining the direction comprises the step of determining a three dimensional direction.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of determining the direction of the input signal comprises the step of determining the direction of the input signal based on an identity of the voice signal.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of extending the bandwidth of the voice signal to produce a bandwidth-extended voice signal comprises the step of extending the bandwidth to 0-8 kHz.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising: 
 bandwidth extension circuitry ( 103 ) receiving an input signal and outputting a bandwidth-extended signal;    direction assignment circuitry ( 105 ) determining a direction to assign the input signal; and    projection circuitry ( 106 ,  107 ) receiving the direction and the bandwidth-extended signal and outputting the bandwidth-extended signal projected in the direction.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the direction comprises a three dimensional direction.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the input signal comprises a voice signal.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the bandwidth-extended signal is 0-8 kHz.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the projection circuitry utilizes a head related impulse response (HRIR) to project the signal.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein bandwidth extension circuitry extends a part of the bandwidth based on the direction.

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